Answers
from the Whooping Crane Expert
Special thanks to Laura
Erickson, for providing her time and expertise in responding to your
questions below.

From: Connecticut
Clay Hill

Q: Hi Laura, My question is about the re-introduction of the
Whooping Crane into Florida. It is thrilling to read and view about the
human guidance of the birds to acquaint them with the migratory path to
MN and FL. But I do not understand if the science and nature people like
yourself are confident that the introduced birds will mate on their own.
I believe that the goal is to produce 25 nesting pairs (and I assume producing
offspring) by 2015. Must there be further human intervention or assistance
to achieve the mating, or is there evidence that the birds will know to
do this part okay on their own?

A: Mating behaviors are instinctive. The trick in the
case of these introduced Whooping Cranes isn't teaching them how to mate--it
will be making sure they know WHO to mate with. In an earlier experiment
in the 1970s, scientists put Whooping Crane eggs in the nests of Sandhill
Cranes. And those baby cranes did what all cranes do, becoming imprinted
on their parents. So they grew up wanting to mate with Sandhill Cranes,
and none successfully found mates or raised young during their entire
lifetimes. There is also the famous case of Tex, a Whooping Crane who
became imprinted on humans while a chick at the Patuxent Research Center.
She was transferred to the International Crane Foundation, where she found
her mate for life in a human, George Archibald. Every spring Tex danced
with George for a few weeks, and then was artificially inseminated. One
egg was fertile and survived, and the chick was named "Gee Whiz."

Captive cranes that aren't exposed to humans usually grow
up to select proper mates. For example, the Whooping Cranes introduced
as permanent residents in Florida are now breeding, and although the young
adults haven't had great success yet, they have managed to raise one or
two chicks. The cranes in this Ultralight experiment are raised with other
cranes, and are fed by a realistic-looking crane puppet. This is an experiment,
of course, so scientists aren't certain that these cranes will breed properly.
But they've considered many contingencies and designed this experiment
as the best hope of creating a second migratory flock of Whooping Cranes.
It's certainly a gamble, but they've done their best to make the odds
as good as possible. Persistent drought conditions or an oil spill in
Texas during winter could wipe out the entire population of migratory
Whooping Cranes. That's why a second migratory flock is so important.
The cranes raised in 2001 returned from Florida to Necedah on their own
in spring, 2002, and made the entire round trip migration on their own
last fall and this spring. So far the experiment looks good! And in a
few years we'll know whether or not it was a genuine success.

Q: The whooping crane is a big visible delightful
animal and it is fun to learn about them and observe their re-introduction
in FL. My question is: are there any small neglected or at risk birds
that might benefit from the migratory work on the WC's?

A: The Ultralight experiment was first
tried on Canada Geese, then Sandhill Cranes, and now Whooping Cranes.
But this technique only works with birds that

imprint on their parents

follow their parents during migration rather than
migrating on their own guided by instinct

migrate by day

fly at slow enough speeds to follow an Ultralight

So many of the techniques would not be useful with small
songbirds or hummingbirds. But some of the techniques learned in dealing
with raising birds in captivity may indeed have uses in helping other
species.

Q: What can I read that gives a good thorough
explanation for the mobile and audio behaviors of the whooping crane?
Thanks for your devotion to wildlife - in a world of merchants and clerks
- you are to be commended for the good work you do. Ed Turbert

A really good book was published last year about cranes,
with an in-depth chapter about Whooping Cranes. It is Peter Matthiessen's
The Birds of Heaven.

One excellent resource for learning the basics of crane
biology with sections on vocalizations and locomotion, which you may be
able to get from your public library, is Lewis, J.C.. 1995. Whooping Crane
(Grus americana). In The Birds of North America, No. 153 (A. Poole and
F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The
American Ornithologists' Union, Washington D.C.

Credit: Al Perry

From:
Wisconsin
Port Washington High School

Q: What is
the average life expectancy of a Whooping Crane?

A: The oldest known
banded wild Whooping Crane lived to be 18 years 10 months, but many scientists
believe individuals may survive 25 years or more. Most birds that survive
to adulthood live to be at least 10 or so.

Q: How can
they detect the fish in the water?

A: Cranes
have good vision, and do most of their feeding on stuff clearly visible
on the ground or in shallow water. Cranes don't eat many fish compared
to other things-crabs and snails, frogs, snakes, and a wide variety of
plant tubers and waste grains, etc.

Q: How well
do they swim? and what animal do they resemble while swimming?

A:
Cranes do not typically swim. Chicks may sometimes do some floating and
leg-paddling, but for the most part cranes walk in water that is shallower
than their legs are long.

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